The media is full of stories about baby sleep positioners this morning – specifically, the news that some UK retailers have stopped selling them due to safety concerns following infant deaths linked to the use of sleep positioners in the US.
BBC News reports
A US health regulator said they "can cause suffocation that can lead to death" and have been linked to 12 infant deaths in the US. The positioners, aimed at infants under six months, are intended to keep a baby in a specific position while sleeping.
Retailers that have stopped selling sleep positioners in the UK include Mothercare, John Lewis and Tesco. Other retailers are expected to follow suit and many are now investigating the issue further with their suppliers.
Playpennies has spoken to a number of brands about their sleep products this morning. At this stage, the move by retailers to drop sleep positioners from sale in the UK is largely a precautionary measure, and individual brands are expected to issue safety statements in response. Sleep positioners with raised supports or pillows attached seem to be of particular concern.
In the meantime, safe sleeping experts have urged parents to remember that the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot or crib in the same room as you for at least the six months of your baby's life.
To reduce the risk of cot death, always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the ‘feet to foot’ position, with their feet at the end of the cot or Moses basket. Do not place any additional accessories in your baby’s cot – no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, soft toys, loose bedding etc.
Do you have a sleep positioner and are you worried about whether it's safe to use? Leave us a comment or join the conversation over on our Facebook page.
EDITED TO ADD: Babymoov's Cosydream has been highlighted in several of the articles relating to re-issued advice from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) concerning sleep positioners and the company has released the following statement:
We would like to assure customers that our award winning, paediatrician-approved Cosydream has never been involved in any incident connected with infant fatality. Nor does the Cosydream resemble the products that first gave rise to the FDA guidelines seven years ago. Please note that our Cosydream has never been sold in the United States and thus can't be involved in the incidents related in this article. Over 100,000 Cosydream units have been sold to satisfied customers worldwide since the product was first launched four years ago, during this time it has been met by wide acclaim. The design of the Cosydream enables babies to sleep safely on their back in accordance with recommendations by the NHS. Using the Cosydream after feeds and during naps can help provide babies relief from symptoms of colic and reflux, it can also help prevent the onset of Plagiocephaly. The product is specifically designed for use from birth and, as per our guidelines, should not be used when baby is able to turn independently. All our products comply with current regulations and the appropriate certification has been attained in relation to each of our baby sleep products.
Comments